The Multitasking Frontier
The debate continues… Are multitaskers more effective at getting things done? Is there a limit to multitasking at which point one’s work becomes more slow, inaccurate, or sloppy? When is multitasking beneficial and when should one completely focus their attention on only one task?
For example, I would really want a brain surgeon to only focus on the brain surgery and not get sidetracked on calling in a lunch order. And yet, playing with a child while folding laundry seems to be part of the standard routine in my household.
A recent article in The New York Times titled “Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic” discusses the limits of multitasking as highlighted in several research reports. One expert, David E. Meyer, was quoted, “Multitasking is going to slow you down, increasing the chances of mistakes.”
What do you think?
